(ABNLP and ABH Certified)
CYRNcoaching and consulting
Offering Personal, Group, and Corporate Coaching/Consulting
The first 30 mins are free for PersonalCoaching/Consulting
I am also on facebook under CYRNcoaching.
Email: cyrncoaching@gmail.com
Phone: 010-5036-4421

Power of Mind - Private Online Counselling
Power of Mind offers a private, secure and confidential counselling through the use of an instant messenger program, that can be accessed online at home, in the workplace or anywhere in particular the client would like to access the internet.
ABN: 45 122 544 090
www.powerofmind.com.au

If any of you are aware of counselors (Korean or English speaking) that you would like to recommend who are residing in Korea. Please contact Yvon at harpoinseoul(at)yahoo(dot)ca thank you.

Last edited by Harpeau on Sun May 08, 2011 5:54 am; edited 12 times in total

I meant to ask, is anyone familiar with good couples counselors, marriage counsellors in Seoul? I'm thinking specifically of counselors who work with inter-ethnic couples (Korean wife-American husband).

Also, do the counselors at Yongsan work with civillians? Or are they strictly for military families.
Thanks in advance.
Harpeau

I don't know about professional couple counselling, but I believe the Yeoido Church (not sure if this is the exact name.. anyway the biggest church in Yoeido) does counselling for couples. Worth a shot.

The Seoul Help Center for Foreigners is a community Services organization here in Seoul that helps ex-pats with among other things, their medical & psychological needs.
http://shc.seoul.go.kr

A 24-hour Medical Referral Service is available by calling 010-4769-8212 or 010-8750-8212. Your questions will be
answered by medically trained, English speaking volunteers. Effective Tuesday April 6, 2004, SHC launched a 24-hour telephone
ˇ°Medical Referral Serviceˇ± for foreign residents and visitors, which refers callers to appropriate medical facilities and services.
The SHC entrusted foreign, English-speaking medical professionals with operating this new service. This Medical
Referral Service is one of the city government's efforts to improve foreigners' quality of life, by providing information regarding
medical services available in Seoul.

Moving to a new country can be an exciting experience ― the thrill of the exotic and what seems like a series of never-ending adventures.

However, it can also be incredibly stressful and challenging, especially when there is a pronounced language barrier, as in Korea.

Some people adapt easily and take to living in new countries like a dog to a swimming pool, while others struggle to adapt and move out of their comfort zone.

At some point, however, almost everybody feels the symptoms of culture shock, such as intense frustration, alienation, loneliness and homesickness that can lead to other conditions like depression.

It's generally agreed upon that culture shock has several distinct phases: the honeymoon phase, the intense irritability phase, the gradual adjustment phase, followed by the adaptation phase. (Reverse culture shock is a whole other issue in itself).

This trajectory will be very familiar to you ― you arrive and live in a state of euphoria for the first few months, then begin to get increasingly irritated and frustrated at every little thing, culminating in not wanting to leave your apartment.

Most people rebound from this low point, and begin to learn the language, make Korean friends, increase their social networks as their homesickness wanes and ultimately don't think twice about being served cake on a piece of toilet paper.

Finally, you have begun to work things out and understand why Koreans act the way they do. You begin to recognize and appreciate positive aspects of the culture.

You always take your shoes off before entering your apartment. However, for those who can't release themselves from the lowest depths of culture shock, there are two options: go home or seek help. For the latter option, a list of professional mental health practitioners is listed below.

One mental health condition that can flourish while living abroad is depression. Often linked to culture shock, it can present itself in many ways, with the most common symptoms ranging from disturbed eating and sleeping patterns to intense and prevailing feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, sadness, and despair.

Current biomedical research generally shows that a combination of counseling and antidepressant medication is the most effective way of treating depression.

However, treatment varies depending on the severity of the affliction ― mild depression, for instance, may retreat through counseling alone.

Often, the last thing people who are depressed feel like doing is finding suitable help, especially in a foreign country where they have to negotiate the language barrier and unfamiliar medical system.

Those residing in Seoul, however, will find that there is easily accessible help available in English for mental health issues. Due to the wonders of technology, counseling is also available over the phone or via the Internet for those who live in remote areas.

Expatriate mental health practitioners who deal with the expatriate community are often very familiar with the issues afflicting their clients because they can relate to the same issues.

Their self-help advice, along with that of expatriates who have ``been there" is often along the same lines: look after your physical body ― cut down on alcohol, eat well and exercise regularly, create a structured routine and make plans on the weekend, cultivate self-knowledge and self-awareness: if you're an introvert, then going to a rowdy bar on Saturday night probably won't make you feel better; think about how you can live your values and meet your goals.

Don't be too frugal: although many people come to Korea to save money, it's worth spending a bit extra to ensure you have a cell phone, Internet connection and cable TV so you have access to the outside world.

Also, finding the familiar can be helpful, including Western food, English movies and hangouts popular with other expatriates. Connect with the culture and host population by studying the language ― this in itself will knock down many barriers.

Trying pursuits such as taekwondo or calligraphy will bring you in closer contact with the culture as well as the locals.

People often stress the importance of joining groups ― whether it's an expat soccer team or a book club in English, take initiative and sniff out organizations where you can meet like-minded people.

Read the English newspapers, magazine and web sites geared toward expats and find out what is happening around town that you might be interested in.

Don't underestimate the importance of having a support network ― both back home with your friends and family and in Korea.

Humans are social animals and need a certain amount of interaction. For those who belong to a particular faith, find out where there is an English service that meets your needs.

Another important aspect of successfully adapting to the host country is finding opportunities. Many people in Korea find that they have more time and money than they did when they were back home.

Try to use them constructively by participating in activities that have present and future benefit, such as learning a new language, taking a photography class, undertaking distance learning study, or participating in volunteer work.

As Korea becomes a more multicultural society, mental health services have mushroomed to meet the needs of the growing expatriate community.

For those who feel they need to see a psychologist, counselor or psychiatrist, a good place to start is the Seoul Global Center's 24/7 Medical Referral Service.

This English-speaking team, made up of medically trained foreign and Korean volunteers, is ready to answer your questions at 010-4769-8212 or 010-8750-8212. Visit their Web site for more information: http://shc.seoul.go.kr.

Another option is Adaptable Human Solutions (www.ahskorea.com), which is based in Seoul and run by expats. They have registered Western born and educated psychologists on staff who also do phone counseling.

Kim Soo-young of the Itaewon International Clinic specializes in psychiatry and deals with expat patients on a daily basis. He can be reached by calling (02) 790-0857, or by visiting www.internationalclinic.co.kr. Remember, only an M.D. or psychiatrist can prescribe medication. For a complete and up-to-date list of mental health services available in English, visit: http://www.harpo.ca/counselorsinseoul.htm